food packaging for events -...

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FOOD PACKAGING FOR EVENTSGUIDELINES FOR TAURANGA CITY

This document aims to be a guide for mobile food vendors and event organisers on the accepted compostable and recyclable packaging

products for processing in Tauranga.

For more information visit www.tauranga.govt.nz

Key things to remember:

Sending the wrong products to the composting and recycling

facilities is considered contamination of the waste stream.

Contaminated recycling and compost usually ends up in

landfill at a cost to the event organiser.

Compostable event waste which is contaminated with more

than 1% of non-compostable product will likely be rejected by

the composting facility and/or the service provider.

Recyclable event waste which is contaminated with more than

5% of non-recyclable product will likely be rejected by the

recycling facility and/or the service provider.

Compostable and recyclable event waste must be

decontaminated before it gets collected by the service

provider, if you’re unsure of what this means please contact

the Resource Recovery Coordinator at the Tauranga City

Council for information on decontamination practices.

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This

doc

ument has been prepared by:

Tauranga City aims to assist events to decrease the quantity

and types of waste they send to landfill

including food waste and compostable/recyclable

food packaging.


ACCEPTED COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING PRODUCTSevents

CUTLERYWooden (timber or bamboo)

- Knives

- Forks

- Spoons

Wooden chopsticks and skewers (although a safety risk) are also approved in this category

Pine cutlery is the easiest of the cutlery products to break down in composting environments at a very competitive price. These products can be disposed of in any composting environment including home composting.

CUPSWhite single wall or double walled cup, this is your standard “compostable” coffee cup

Ranges from 4oz (perfect for tastings) and goes up to 20oz/600ml size to replace milkshake cups

These cups look similar to a regular 8oz coffee cup but have a thin plant based plastic PLA* lining instead of the regular plastic lining. These cups break down readily in all commercial composting environments but are not designed for home composting or worm farms.

CONTAINERSSingle wall PLA* hot or cold bowls for deli goods/icecream etc.

(preferred without lids)

These are very similar to the hot/cold cups above and have a thin lining on the inside of the paper walls which is made from PLA*. This can readily break down in all commercial composting facilities but is not designed to be put through a home composting unit or worm farm.

PLATES/BOWLSSugar cane or “bagasse” plate

Also come in bowls, clams and most shapes of food servery packaging

These plates are made of sugar cane pressed fibres and look a bit like cardboard. They are a cost-effective servery item and can be accessed through most packaging retailers. Bagasse items do not contain toxic inks and can readily break down in all composting environments including home composting units. They are the most widely used item for food servery at events.

*Please note that these are the only products containing PLA that are accepted for composting at Revital Fertiliser.

DESCRIPTION FURTHER INFORMATION



DRINKING STRAWSAardvark Jumbo White Paper Straw

(un-inked, but inked also permitted – as per picture)

These straws are made from food grade recycled paper and can be found at most packaging retailers. They are suitable for processing through all composting environments such as home composting and worm farming as they use soy based inks and are 100% recycled paper. They are quite suitable as a straw for a thin drink (not smoothie/thickshake) and hold their shape well. They come in a range of colours and designs.

NAPKINSRecycled paper napkins, natural coloured

These kraft coloured paper napkins are made from recycled paper. They are food grade and free of toxic dyes. These are preferred for composting over coloured napkins. These natural/kraft coloured napkins are widely available at packaging retailers and wholesalers and are extremely cost effective.

SINGLE USE BAGSKraft paper bags

FLAT (e.g for jerky or similar)

Or

WITH HANDLE e.g 178mm (3.6L volume)

These bags are made from recycled paper and are non-bleached or dyed. They are a cost effective alternative to carry-bags which are fully compostable in any environment including home composting and worm farms. They are widely available from most packaging suppliers in the flat version and the carry bag version. Vendors can use a water based ink stamp to brand bags if necessary.

PINE BOATSPine servery

Come in a range of sizes and shapes such as cones, boats, trays and platters

Pine servery can be a great way of presenting tapas style or finger food. It does also come in a flat tray. The fibres are easy to break down in all commercial composting facilities and also in home composting and worm farming.




POTATOPAKPotatopak

e.g 350ml bowl (12 x 4.5 cm)

Come in a range of colours, shapes and sizes.

Potatopak products are made from potatoes and have been a kiwi innovation. The break down readily and quickly when exposed to any sort of water-based moisture which makes them suitable for serving dry products in or oily products. Salads are not suitable due to their moisture content.

They are suitable for processing through all commercial facilities including home composting due to the speed in which they decompose and the edible food colouring used to colour the servery. You can actually eat Potatopak products if you wanted to…

WRAPS/POUCHESSandwich wrap with vegetable wax coated paper

Hot & Crispy pouch - Specially designed compostable pouches to keep burgers/sandwiches hot

The hot and crispy pouch replaces the usually non-recyclable tin foil used in food servery, a great innovation, a paper based product can be processed through any composting environment including home compost and worm farms.

Sandwich wrap contains a vegetable wax lining and is the only greaseproof paper which can be composted.

SHALLOW BOXNoodle or salad shallow box with water-based lining

Hot or cold.

Comes in range of sizes

This shallow cardboard box has a water based lining which is completely compostable in any composting environment. This particular product from “Friendlypak” differs to most similar products on the market which usually have a plastic lining which makes them neither recyclable nor compostable in the BOP.

CARDBOARDCardboard trays

(with no lining)

PIZZA BOXES

Also permitted

Food boxes made from kraft cardboard with no lining. There are other cardboard only products in the market which also have no lining although this can be hard to identify so only approved products can be brought to events to be composted. Pizza boxes are also suitable for composting in most commercial composting facilities.



ACCEPTED RECYCLABLE PACKAGING PRODUCTSevents

If recycling is very dirty, it is also considered contaminated. The best products for food packaging are compostable, that way the food residue can be composted with the packaging. Tauranga recyclers accept plastics #1-2, this number can be found in the triangle on the bottom of the product. They also accept the following products:

PLASTIC #1 OR #2 CONTAINERS (CLEAN)

PLASTICS #1 OR #2DRINK BOTTLES

(LIDS OFF)

STEEL CANS (RINSED)

PAPER (NO SERVIETTES)

CARDBOARD(FLATTENED)

ALUMINIUM CANS

GLASS BOTTLES(COLOUR SEPARATED IS BEST)

GLASS JARS(COLOUR SEPARATED IS BEST)

CLEAN TIN FOIL(WASTE MANAGEMENT ONLY)

!


LANDFILL ONLY PRODUCTS IN TAURANGA (RUBBISH)events

Try to avoid these products by using their compostable or recyclable alternatives

These products are neither compostable or recyclable, therefore are considered as rubbish in the BOP for the following reasons:

1. They are double layer products e.g. that are paper with a plastic lining

2. They are made of a type of plastic/material that is not accepted by local recyclers/composters

3. They get stuck in machinery or are unsuitable for the standard recycling process

4. They are dirty therefore create contamination

PLASTIC CUTLERY/PLATES CELLOPHANE

DIRTY PLASTICS# 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

POLYSTYRENE/FOAM

‘DEGRADABLE’ PLASTIC

GLAD WRAP CARDBOARD BOXES WITH PARRAFIN WAXED OR PLASTIC PET LINING

DIRTY ALUMINIUM FOIL

OTHER PLA OR ‘COMPOSTABLE’ PLASTIC

PLASTIC STRAWS COFFEE CUP LIDS(PLASTIC OR

COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC)

COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC

PLASTIC BAGS DRINKING GLASSESOR “PYREX”

COFFEE / TAKEAWAY CUPS (PLASTIC LINED)

DRINK CARTONS

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